GAMBIA COCAINE SCANDAL—DISTURBING REVELATIONS!!!

Politically exposed persons (PEP), The Cocaine Burst in The Gambia vs.International Anti Money Laundering laws!

 By Essa Bokarr Sey.

There is what financial institutions call the PEP-Politically exposed persons. The term is neither clumsy nor complex for anyone to decode as it is self-explanatory. The equivalent of PEP can as well be what we call “high ranking officials” in our every day language within the circles of government. This term or “extended title” features on government reports, news and the like that are related to government institutions especially in former British colonies like ours, where most of the terms have been inherited from a transcending administrative culture. Why are they called politically exposed persons? They are called so because they are the ones on the frontline. They are the ones who have access to power, resources and other aspects related to anything that touches on politics, policies and or other aspects that affect the welfare of the people. They are exposed because they are dealing with what the public should know about or what touches on the every lives of people. For example where an investor is to come into any given country these politically exposed persons are the ones who come into direct contact with the party in question. Coming into direct contact with whoever expresses his or her readiness to come and invest in a country can and should always be done within the confines of the law(s). That is, where checks and balances are expected and respected. The contrary can as well take place where endemic corruption has been established. Or at best where the desire to harm a given society for one’s own selfish interest or other ulterior motives take the center stage. In most cases in countries like The Gambia words like “mochaat” (wolof), in French “pot de vin” and in pidgin English “cut” are the ignition keys of the “engine-of-corruption”! These are terms which our society “baked” in its oven of corruption then went ahead to create phrase like “money on the table” or “money under the table”. Where money is placed either on or under the table without the figures being registered in a ledger or another recommended place to match auditing and inventory, means CORRUPTION has been entertained! This is why these are the tasteless phrases of our socio linguistics back home! These are terms justifying corruption or receiving one’s share from any party for personal interest but not national interest. That is dangerous! Officials like that never think about consequences or after effects. Why don’t they? They don’t because in their minds it is right to do anything and get money because for them money is the only answer to life’s challenges! That is exactly why drug dealers or other parties whose wealth starts from dirty sources of income always appreciate working with corrupt officials than anything or anybody else. These corrupt officials who are at the same time PEP-politically exposed persons make it very easy for such dubious characters from within and without the country to “cleanse” their ill gotten wealth! Officials who are so corrupt, reckless and envious of flashy life styles are easy targets for drug dealers or any other party who intends to use money and do evil! If society is to be turned to a scale I would say these officials and the drug dealers or other parties who are involved in bad things in the world do carry the same weight! They are birds of the same feathers within a given habitat. They are in this evil field of activities. They are at the same time out to distract, destroy and cause retrogress.

In view of the aforesaid, let no person in The Gambia government, civil sector or other parts of society who are directly or indirectly aiding and abetting people who sell drugs or engage on activities related to money laundering think that they are out of reach. NO YOU ARE NOT! YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU CANNOT HIDE! Let none of those who are yet to be caught think that IGP Ensa Badjie and others like Bun Sanneh the former chief of the NDEA are the culprits so that is it! Not at all. Sooner or later the zooming will start detecting the unexpected.

Sometimes people may think about PEPs are only for people  like the President and others close to the seat of power(officially) but that is wrong! Let those who serve as booby traps(personal relations) also not sleep deep these days. Investigations do always unearth the unexpected. Even if some people rush to close their bank accounts or traces of their banking activities in The Gambia and abroad only to conceal past and or present traces, that would not help them escape the radar. Remember these on/off line statements within the banking industry and other traces can be kept for years. Supporting the system back home by basing it on one’s democratic right is not the challenge here. The challenge here is this. We cannot afford to entertain people being used home and abroad for the sole purpose of receiving monies from a government source therefore help launder it under the name of partisan politics! That will definitely not be handled lightly by parties who are investigating the ins and outs of those involved in this illicit cycle of activities. Money laundering, the sale of drugs and terrorism go hand in hand my good friends. Anyone involved in receiving monies from politically exposed persons and then get caught along the trenches would have no one to blame but themselves. Mark you! Those who investigate will never accuse anyone without expecting a stiff challenge in court. That is why they do their home work thoroughly and very well for that matter. The MUSHROOMING OF BANKS IN THE GAMBIA has always been an indicator for investigators. In fact even the “no-nonsense” Nigerian governor of the central bank who came up with the idea of cleansing his own country’s backyard sent a signal to countries like ours to that effect. How ever there is a big difference between listening and then know what steps to take or avoid being caught and listening only to gather information with the intension of helping enhance capacity building within society. The former is not good while the latter is expected from any responsible citizen! We also know that there are people in some governments who are doing covert operations by helping the hiding criminals study the next steps security personnel are going to take. Those people exist in The Gambia government likewise in other governments in West Africa where the illicit flow of small arms and now cocaine have always been  causes for concern. We also know that there are private citizens home and abroad who are aiding some PEPs escape the radar therefore, receive money from them via bank wires. There are concrete traces which will be released to the competent authorities and the financial institutions to track, caution and or apprehend these people within the coming weeks or months. I swear to Allah or God for my fellow Christians that, this fight against bad has never been taken lightly and we will strive further down the line to make sure that people who only see their  personal interest even to detriment of our land are handled within a legal and professional method of operation. People will finally come to realize the difference between rhetoric and action oriented measures that are geared towards helping save our country from breathing a polluted “social-oxygen”. It is an international obligation for any government to adhere to the rules or face the consequences. The performance of an economy cannot be based on side kicks that are linked to dirty sources! National economy should be deriving it strength from dirty money, then usethe laundry machineonly to come  back to the household with "bleached" curreny notes! Nope! That is where a professional approach will be used to help curb the current trend with readiness.

No one is being accused but let it be clear that parties(whose names will not be released here) have already been flagged and red tagged. Therefore they will be taken by surprise or feel a very rude shock where the facts continue revealing and confirming themselves. This is not about who opposes the other…or who despises another for partisan reasons. This is about using technology, Law, human intelligence, forensic expertise and the like to help catch people who think they can never be caught, when in actual fact, they have always been helping destroy our land(especially from 2006 to now). Facts have already revealed that some of those who were charged for the sale of drugs registered  companies in The Gambia back in 2006! Names will not be released for now. Definitely and candidly speaking it will be too hard for The Gambian authorities to escape facing the wrath of professionals who are so adamant on exposing PEPs involved in money laundering. For now concrete traces that are linked to some hard facts will not be released because it is always better to take such people by surprise. Let no PEP inside and outside The Gambia blame anyone when and where their assets are frozen! To start with. Nothing will be done outside the confines of law. Every person is presumed innocent until proven guilty therefore it will be the duty of those investigating not to waste resources on a futile expedition. I can assure you that God willing results will be achieved in this case! For now please read the following excerpt (Courtesy of data or archives from financial and intelligence sources, posted on the online free encyclopedia) relate it to what has been taking place in Guinea Bissau, The Gambia and other parts of West Africa then be your own judge for now. Alongside you will see words in quotes with preceding questions to further help elaborate on what is meant and what is expected of us as citizens and the PEPs in The Gambia likewise!

a)What is Anti-money laundering and how does it affect our country The Gambia at this time?

AML is here to fight dirty sources of income!

QUOTE: “Anti-money laundering (AML) is a term mainly used in the financial and legal industries to describe the legal controls that require financial institutions and other regulated entities to prevent or report money laundering activities….”

Observation: If the above was taking place in The Gambia how come they could escape the radar from 2006 to now? There are records in The Gambia to show that some of these people had their businesses registered in 2006!

b)Doesn’t The Gambia fall under this category AS WE SPEAK?

QUOTE: “Today, most financial institutions globally, and many non-financial institutions, are required to identify and report transactions of a suspicious nature to the financial intelligence unit in the respective country. For example, a bank must perform due diligence by ascertaining a customer's identity and monitor transactions for suspicious activity. To do this, many financial institutions utilize the services of special software, and use the services of companies such as C6 to gather information about high risk individuals and organizations….”

Observation: In The Gambia it is the head of the police and the head of the NDEA plus their “trailers” who have been charged with the very crime being referred here above. That means nothing was being respected in that regard. Performing due diligence within the banking industry in The Gambia? I doubt if it has ever been part of the culture of those financial institutions. All branches should be doing it folks. Be they part of the Merchant services, credit cards companies and or consumer/retail banking and the like.

c)Isn’t it paramount to share with or educate our National Assembly on matters like these prior to presenting bills before them?

QUOTES: “Many people have confused Anti-Money Laundering (AML) with Anti-Terrorist Financing (ATF)…..file

Suspicious Activity Reports (SAR) to Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (Fin CEN)…………to effectively implement AML and ATF measures….encouraging financial institutions to work together for AML and ATF purposes is very important… How ever financial institutions are required by law to protect the privacy of their clients…to overcome this obstacle certain guidelines have been established by AML and ATF professionals to achieve this global cooperation goal in compliance with the privacy laws of most countries.

Observation: The Gambia has a chance to be part of those who are ready to fight crime within a global context or be left there flapping their wings like wet sparrows in a dusty bush. Shouting or attacking the west for being colonialists like President Jammeh does is not the answer here. This is about a common approach to combat crime in every part of the world and nothing else period.

d)How about The Gambia?

QUOTES: “In different countries and, depending on the activity, demand different action, in Europe for example it is EUR 15,000, and in Switzerland it is CHF 25,000. In some countries there is no CTR requirement (Isn‘t The Gambia one of them?). Suspicion of ML activity in the US requires the submission of a SAR, while in Switzerland a SAR will only get filed if that activity can be proved. As a result, thousands of SARs are filed daily in the US, while in Switzerland the rate is much lower. The

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime maintains the International Money Laundering Information Network, a website that provides information and software for anti-money laundering data collection and analysis.[1] The World Bank has a website in which it provides policy advice and best practices to governments and the private sector on anti-money laundering issues.[2

Observation:

BRAVO!!! UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BRAVO!!!!

In all honesty there is no excuse for The Gambia government where they are found to be “guilty” of harboring sources related to ML especially those who sell drugs and arms!